Part Fifteen
Memorie.al / CIA activities in Albania to overthrow Enver Hoxha’s regime also brought clashes between the US and other states. It is known that there were many frictions with the British, while a declassified document shows clashes with Italy as well. According to the document, the Italians attempted to interfere in the Committee for “Free Albania.” There were also clashes with Britain, which was conducting parallel operations.
Memorandum for the Deputy Director of Special Operations
Subject: Italian concern about the activities of the National Committee for “Free Albania”
Your memorandum dated December 15, 1950 was read with considerable interest. Although the Italians are undoubtedly interested in the work of the National Committee for “Free Albania,” it seems that their main concern is British activity and their objectives for Albania, as well as the British method of using the Committee in pursuit of these objectives. In fact, the nature of the Committee’s work is known and any Italian penetration into its leadership or attempt to corrupt its members would be futile efforts.
From our knowledge of the Committee’s work and in particular of the Committee’s cooperation with the British, we believe that Italian suspicions or misunderstandings about their scenarios for the partition of Albania are totally unfounded.
As far as we are aware, all brochures issued about Albania have been prepared by the National Committee for “Free Albania,” and we know of no case where they were prepared by the British or where the latter intervened in the Committee’s texts. In this regard, it would be of great interest if Italian intelligence could provide us with the text referred to in your memorandum.
We would be grateful if you keep us informed of other developments in the matter.
Frank G. Wisner, Deputy Director of Coordination Policies
May 15, 1953
National Committee for “Free Albania”
November 28, 1951
The National Committee for “Free Albania” welcomes you to the celebration of Albania’s Independence Day and wishes to use this opportunity for its dedication to the cause of Albania’s liberation and for the world’s recognition of the activity of the National Committee for “Free Albania” (NCFA).
Seven years ago Albania lost its independence, won through much struggle, falling under the regime of the communists and their puppet leader Enver Hoxha. This communist movement left a bad mark on the country that for 2000 years has fought to gain independence.
This also marks the loss of the freedom gained on the day of the country’s independence, which was November 12, 1912. On that day, in the midst of the Balkan wars, a group of noblemen gathered in Vlora issued the declaration of independence.
With this act these people took a major step, continuing the legacy of our national hero, Skanderbeg, who fought nobly for Albania’s independence in the 15th century against the invading Turkish hordes, marking one of the most glorious periods of the country. From this victory comes Skanderbeg’s flag, which is now our national emblem, that of the double-headed eagle.
Union of Emigrants
In an effort to unite all Albanian emigrant elements into a united front against communist terror, the National Committee of “Free Albania” was formed and its international headquarters opened in New York on July 17, 1950. The NCFA was created to overcome the lines of political division among Albanians and to represent all Albanians who wish to uphold human rights in their country.
The Committee’s activities are directed from its New York headquarters. We also maintain an office in Rome which tries to stay in contact with our compatriots suffering inside Albania. The main activity of the NCFA is the coordination of the resistance efforts of Albanian emigrants fighting against communism.
July 1953
British infiltration into Albania by submarine
The following information was obtained from Albanian refugee Anton Syku on July 9, 1953.
During the time Anton Syku from Shën-Kolli i Lezhës was a refugee in the Gerova camp in Yugoslavia, in April he received a letter from his cousin Dedë Zef Prela, with the address “24 Ulica Masarikova Sabac,” Yugoslavia, which told the following story.
In the latter part of 1952, Prela, Ndue Frroku and three other unidentified Albanians from the Lavrion camp in Greece were landed on the Albanian coast of the Mat shore by a British submarine. The group operated from the island of Mere e Teqes and from Prela’s birth village, Kakarriq, with the help of their contact man Mirash Çuni.
After 45 days of operations, the three unidentified men of the mission were killed in clashes with communist Sigurimi forces. With the help of UDB agents operating in Albania, Prela and Frroku escaped to Yugoslavia in March 1953.
Prela had been a member of the Albanian border guard since 1950, until his departure to Greece on February 22, 1951. As a form of reprisal after his escape, Prela’s wife, File, his two daughters and his son were arrested by Sigurimi agents and sent to the concentration camp in Tepelenë.
Prela is about 30 years old, a supporter of King Zog, Catholic and has only completed primary school. Our agents are trying to persuade Syku to write a letter to Prela, asking him for other details about the British intelligence mission.
Syku has agreed to allow the agents to check the letter and post it to Prela. We will photograph all the letters before they are sent to Prela, and as with all information received, it will be passed on to you.
Plan III
This plan was approved on March 1, 1949 and concerns the use of personnel from the “Keva” organization, the largest of Greek refugees from Southern Albania (otherwise known as Northern Epirus) for intelligence gathering. The agents of this operation are Stefanos Venakides, secretary of Keva, and an employee of the National Bank of Greece, Nikolaos Pangos, vice-president of “Keva.”
These two individuals have long worked on infiltrating agents into southern Albania, and report a total of eighteen agents in the Albanian cities of Gjirokastër, Leskovik, Përmet, Vlorë, Korçë and Himarë.
Currently fifteen couriers are ready for border crossings. A list of twenty-seven known agents and couriers from the “Keva” organization, along with their locations and employments, is attached to the document.
The “Keva” organization has a wide range of functions, including assistance activities in Greece and resistance groups in Albania, with a membership of about 5,000 people in Greece and about 2,300 in Albania, according to reports.
The objectives of this operation include gathering intelligence on resistance groups in southern Albania and their programs and plans, data on ports, airports, constructions, as well as on the assistance that Albania gives to Greek rebels.
The couriers will depart for the Albanian border to establish agent networks. The main bases of this operation are in Athens, but it is planned that they will be moved to Ioannina. The first groups of couriers under our direction are expected to depart after a few weeks.
Meanwhile, a small number of valuable news items have been received about the activities of the two Keva group officials identified above. The important products of this operation are expected to increase considerably when our direction and support are felt more. / Memorie.al
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